Clasp



1970 H. D. ZIMMERMANN 3,

CLASP Filed Dec} 11, 1968 ATTORNEYS INVENTOR. HORST D- ZIMMERMAN United States Patent 3,543,356 CLASP Horst D. Zimmermann, 3974 Waterhouse Road, Oakland, Calif. 94602 Filed Dec. 11, 1968, Ser. No. 783,074 Int. Cl. A44b 17/00 US. Cl. 24-230 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A clasp for forming a closed loop by coupling portions of an elongated flexible strand through the use of a pair of interlocking members adapted to be engaged by applying a force to a chain attached at one end to a first of the interlocking members, slidably threaded through an aperture in the second of the interlocking members and affixed at its other end to a portion of the strand spaced from the second interlocking member.

This invention relates to a novel device for forming a closed loop by coupling portions of an elongated flexible strand. More particularly, the invention is directed to a clasp in which the abutting ends of a strand of jewelry are provided with engageable elements that can be interlocked by being drawn or pulled together as contrasted with being pushed together as in conventional clasps.

Jewelry of the type that is displayed upon the wrist of the wearer, whether it envelops the wrist as a solid-type bracelet, linked bracelet, or as the band of a wrist watch has heretofore been formed with abutting ends provided with interlocking latchforming members. Such engageable clasps or fasteners include the type wherein one end is forced into or coupled with an appropriate structure on the opposite end, i.e., where a first element is positioned in mating engagement with a second element. In these types of clasps the mating elements must be pushed together in order to afiix them into the desired position. Unfortunately, when securing the jewelry on the wrist of one hand, the wearer can only use the fingers of the other hand to manipulate the engageable ends of the jewelry. For this reason, clasps used on jewelry and related articles are difficult and cumbersome to aflix.

The present invention is directed to a novel jewelry clasp wherein the interlocking elements that comprise the fastener can be drawn together through movement of as few as one finger as contrasted with the usual multiple finger-pushing required to engage conventional clasps. Presently available jewelry often includes a chain, formed of short segments of fine, yet strong links, that is attached to portions of the bracelet at locations spaced from the engaging elements of the jewelry. By providing this chain in a limited length, it serves as a safety guard to prevent the jewelry from beig dropped and damaged and/or lost, should the fastener (or clasp) become detached. The present invention incorporates this segment of chain, hereinbefore utilized purely as a safety feature, to assist in drawing the ends of the jewelry strand together. This is accomplished by arranging an appropriate length of chain so that it is secured at one end to one of the engageable elements, freely extends through the other engageable element, and is secured at its second end to a portion of the jewelry spaced from the second engageable element. In this manner, by slipping the jewelry onto the wrist and pulling out on the safety chain, the second element is guided along the chain into interlocking engagement with the first element.

In a preferred aspect of the invention, the safety chain is provided with a tab connected to the chain by-a link having an opening of sufficient size to allow the safety chain to freely pass therethrough. In this manner, and when it is desired to draw the engageable ends of the jewelry into rigid interlocking alignment, it is merely necessary to grasp the tab between the thumb and index finger and draw the tab outwardly away from the piece of jewelry. Thus, the safety chain, which is attached at one end to one of the engageable elements and threaded through an aperture in the other engageable element causes the two engageable elements to be interlocked. By forming the chain of fine grade metal, for example, it lends artistic and aesthetic value to the jewelry as performing the dual function of being a safety guard. Furthermore, the tab as hereinafter described, can be formed so as to have an appealing configuration and be suitable for the inclusion of indicia such as initials.

The objects, features and advantages of this invention will become more apparent when reference is made to the following detailed disclosure, especially in view of the attached drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of one embodiment of this invention disposed on the wrist of the wearer;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary partially cut away plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 wherein the engageable elements are interlocked;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 in a closed position; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 6.

For convenience of discussion, the following detailed disclosure will be directed to a strand of jewelry composed of precious metal and formed of a plurality of interconnected rings (or links) wherein the outermost links bear the engageable elements. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in this art that the strand can take other conventional physical forms of jewelry and the like. Furthermore, the engageable elements need not be attached to the outermost ends of the strand.

Turning now to the drawings wherein similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views, there is shown a strand of jewelry, bracelet A, having a plurality of interconnected rings 10 and including two external (terminal) rings 10' and 10". Attached to ring 10' is a resilient, compressible latch 12 for wedging engagement within sleeve 13. Latch 12 includes a generally rigid base member 14 attached at one end to backing plate 16 which in turn is retained on ring 10, such as through rigid link 18. Latch 12 also includes depressible lever arm 20 resiliently mounted for displacement with respect to base member 14.

Chain B, which is affixed at one end through terminal link 26 to compressible latch 12, is attached at its other end to internal ring 10" of strand A spaced from terminal ring 10". Chain B is formed of a plurality of links 26 and is of a length sufficient to enable strand B to be readily slipped over the wearers hand and onto the wrist.

Sleeve 13 includes a first open end 22 for slidably receiving compressible latch 12. The second end of sleeve 13 includes aperture 24 having a diameter in excess of the largest dimension of any link 26 in chain B. Sleeve 13 is secured to terminal ring 10" in a conventional manner such as through link 28.

Chain B is provided with a. tab 30 including enclosed passage 32 having a sufficient diameter to freely slide over the plurality of links 26 of which chain B is composed. Although tab 30 can take any form as desired, it has been found desirable to fabricate it in the form of a flat disc so that initials or other indicia can be readily applied thereto. Tab 30 is preferably formed of a precious metal corresponding to the metal of strand A and chain B.

In operation, the strand of jewelry is slipped over the hand and onto the wrist of the intended wearer. The wearer then grasps chain B, either directly, or through tab 30, with the index finger and thumb of the opposite hand. Then, by pulling outwardly from the wrist, the engageable elements, latch 12 and sleeve 13 are drawn together. In other words, as force is applied to draw an intermediate portion of chain B away from strand A, sleeve 13 is forced along the links 26 of chain B into engagement with sleeve 13. Tab 30, which tends to center itself upon the free portion of chain B, because passage 32 allows tab B to freely slide over chain B, is especially convenient for drawing sleeve 13 onto latch 12. Thus, as tab 30 is displaced further from ring sleeve 13 will ultimately ride up on the inclined surface of latch 12 until the resisting force of the resilient metal is equal to (or exceeds) the force being exerted upon tab 30.

It will be appreciated by one skilled in this art that tab 30 is not essential to the operation of this invention as insertion of a finger into that portion of chain B forming the loop between sleeve 13 and ring 10" provides the same ultimate effect, i.e., a forced engagement of sleeve 13 upon latch 12. FIG. 3 depicts latch 12 and sleeve 13 fully engaged. Conversely, when it is desired to remove the jewelry from the wrist, lever arm is merely depressed, thereby releasing sleeve 13 for withdrawal therefrom.

Turning now to FIGS. 47, the embodiment therein depicted includes a latch 12, including depressor 34 and upright rib 36. Sleeve 13 includes an elongated groove 38, extending inwardly from open end 22, and having a series of rectangulanshaped notches 40 extending outwardly at spaced intervals along groove 38. Notches 40 are formed of a width sufiicient to receive and maintain upright rib 36 in a fixed location. Thus, rib 36 is of a width greater than the width of groove 38 but less than the width of notches 40. Preferably rib 36 has a thickness that is about equal to the depth of the notches 40.

In operation, the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4-7 is manipulated in a similar manner to that of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2-3. However, in addition, and because of the spacing of notches 40, alternate disposition of resilient latch 12 within sleeve 13 results for various alignments of upright rib 36 with notches 40. In this manner, the particular piece of jewelry involved may be more or less tightly secured to the wrist, i.e., the ultimate circumference of the jewelry may be varied by modifying the position of rib 36 with respect to notches 40.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that certain changes and modifications can be practiced within the spirit of the invention as limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A clasp for forming a closed loop from an elongated flexible strand, comprising a pair of engageable members having means to interlock with each other, each secured to spaced apart portions of said strand, an elongated resilient element affixed at a first end to one of said engageable members and at a second end to said strand, said element being threaded through an aperture in the other of said engageable members whereby said other engageable member is caused to interlock with said one engageable member when a transverse force is applied to a portion of said resilient element intermediate with said other engageable member and said second end.

2. A clasp in accordance with claim 1 wherein said strand is adapted to be worn as jewelry about the wrist of awearer.

3. A clasp in accordance with claim 1 wherein said interlocking is accomplished by the wedging of said one engageable member into said other engageable member.

4. A clasp in accordance with claim 1 wherein said resilient element is a chain formed of a plurality of interconnected rings.

5. A clasp in accordance with claim 1 wherein the portion of said element intermediate said other member and said second end includes a tab in slidable engagement therewith for transferring said transverse force to said element.

6. A clasp in accordance with claim 5 wherein sad tab comprises a flat disc including an aperture, said aperture being of sufficient internal diameter to freely slide over said resilient element.

7. A clasp in accordance with claim 1 wherein said other engageable member comprises a tubular sleeve having an open-ended elongated notched aperture extending generally parallel to the axis of said tubular sleeve, said one engageable member comprising a resilient depressible lever including an upstanding rib for insertion in and engagement with said notched aperture, whereby the ultimate length of said strand can be modified by varying the location of engagement of said rib with said aperture.

8. A clasp in accordance with claim 1 wherein said engageable members are attached to respective ends of said strand.

9. A clasp in accordance with claim 1 wherein said strand is a series of interconnected rings.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 293,418 2/1884 Church 24-230 2,117,137 5/1938 Blatz. 2,173,818 9/1939 Baumer 24-230X 2,640,239 6/ 1953 Schneider 24-116 FOREIGN PATENTS 293,216 6/1915 Germany.

1,095,458 6/1955 France.

STANLEY N. GILREATH, Primary Examiner W. H. SCHROEDER, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 24206 

